Dugout Discussion

Pogba and Maguire lead list of unexpected Gameweek 1 starters

Paul Pogba (£8.0m) heads up a number of players who have made an unexpected appearance in Gameweek 1 of Fantasy Premier League.

It was thought to be unlikely that the French World Cup winner would feature against Leicester in the first match of 2018/19, as a result of his exploits in Russia, but he captains Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, the biggest surprise starter of the night from a Fantasy perspective is Harry Maguire (£5.5m), who will sit next to Wes Morgan (£4.5m) at the heart of the Leicester defence. That comes after suggestions from manager Claude Puel that he was a serious doubt to play after going deep into the World Cup with England.

Despite the suggestions he would miss out, Maguire was still picked in 17 percent of FPL squads. His contribution tonight could end up unexpectedly making a big difference to the Fantasy landscape of Gameweek 1.

James Maddison (£6.5m) passed a fitness test to start in the number 10 role Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) was considered ready enough only for the bench. But even that is an unexpected role for the England man, and he could be in the frame for a start against Wolves next week.

Also on the bench tonight is Romelu Lukaku (£11.0m) while Marcus Rashford (£7.0m) leads the Manchester United attacking line. Alexis Sánchez (£10.5m) has not been given the centre-forwards role that was expected, or at least, that is what the team-sheet suggest. He may well take up that position after all with Rashford also able to operate out-wide.

Fantasy managers who had banked on World Cup semi-finalists not returning to full action for a few weeks may be hoping these team-sheets don’t set the tone for Gameweek 1.

MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Shaw, Lindelof, Bailly, Darmian; Fred, Pogba, A Pereira; Sánchez, Rashford, Mata.

LEICESTER CITY XI (4-2-3-1): Schmeicheln; Chilwell, Maguire, Morgan, Amartey; Silva, Nidda; Gray, Maddison, R Pereira; Iheanacho.

3,287 Comments Post a Comment
  1. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    0 points from 0. I give up

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yep might as well just quit and walk away. It’ll be better day tomorrow, I promise

  2. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Bloody hell! Everyone calmed down a bit now?

    1. stat
        5 years, 7 months ago

        No. Sanchez is exploiting non-owners with that non-assist

        1. Red Dagger ✪
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Haha! Yup. Seems a bit unfair to me.

          1. stat
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Maybe it can still be removed before the GW ends?

              1. Red Dagger ✪
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Possibly but I think after all the league updates happen then it will stand. Have the leagues updated yet?

                1. stat
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    No

                    1. Red Dagger ✪
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      That will be the marker then. If the leagues update with Sanchez's points then they are final.

          2. Richd
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Sorry mate just gutted I didn’t captain Shaw. Changed it back to Salah at 18:59 😉

            1. Red Dagger ✪
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Haha!

          3. BadgersBoys
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Well that escalated 🙂 It was a refreshing break from the whole Sanchez assist explosion.

            1. Homo Neanderthalensis
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Nice of the mods to lock down possibly the most intellectual discussion I’ve ever had on here. Nothing wrong with healthy debate.

              1. BadgersBoys
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Completely agree. Although, I do think that the vast majority would like to keep it football/ FPL related. Hope you have a great fantasy weekend though 🙂

              2. stat
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  This, there was some interesting debate going on

              3. Homo Neanderthalensis
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                On a side note.. check out this infograph under humanity->ideology lol

                https://infobeautiful4.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/03/iib_death_wellcome_collection_fullsize.png

                1. willl
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  tobacco officially worse than communism

                  1. Homo Neanderthalensis
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Don’t smoke kids lol

                2. ChelseaKTBFF
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  Interesting.

                  Still a white-washed appropriation of facts though. Somehow wars fought under "capitalist" agendas are just "Wars"

                  1. Homo Neanderthalensis
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    I disagree, The data is from; and the infographic was commissioned; by the World Health Organisation.. which is an organisation with people from every walk of life and ideology, not just white people lol.

                    The wars under the “wars” heading are not under ideology because those wars were not fought in the name of capitalism or democracy.. and most I can see under that heading have nothing to do with ideology, and everything to do with revolutions to bring their people out of oppression.

                    The deaths listed under ideology didn’t come from wars... they came directly from the ideology... like the Soviet Union killing people for having different viewpoints to the communist agenda.. and chairman Mao starving his entire population, and killing those who opposed his ideology under the communist regime.

          4. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Assist stands.

            I am almost positive this was implemented end of last season.

            Would of thought the rules would be updated by now though.

            1. Totalfootball
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              implemented what at end of last season ?!

              1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Some changes to coincide with another scoring system.

                Was a few of these scenarios last season.

            2. Thunder Warrior
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Yeah, they will change rules tonight

              1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Like I said earlier this is the best thing for the game in general.

                You will have points this season because of this at some point.

          5. tafrère
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            So no standings available until the next matches ?

            I wanted to see my opponents teams in my ML. 🙁

            1. Red Dagger ✪
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              That hasn't updated yet. It might do. You can see other teams on your mobile app now.

            2. FPL_Gyarados
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              They will update in the next few hours.
              The first update is always the longest.

          6. stat
              5 years, 7 months ago

              GW Rank updated

              1. WesMantooth
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                2,838,430 cool as you like

                1. FPL_Gyarados
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  Same! We're tied! 😀

              2. Four Hit Wonder
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                86k. I love myself.

            • FPL_Gyarados
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Just saw that the highest score so far is 46pts and they treble captained Shaw. There's always one!

              https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/2649210/event/1

              1. WesMantooth
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                hah! stuff of legends that one!

              2. Vinyl78LP
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Off to a flyer, well played that chap.

              3. FPL_Gyarados
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                I'm pretty sure 11pts is better than my double gameweek treble captain last year so I can't say it's a bad decision.

                I remember I found all three double gameweeks awful last year. No-one did really well twice. Hoping this year it's better!

            • PepSala
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              With all due respect.. If the Sanchez assist stands it will be an absolute joke.

              1. willl
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                it stands move on

              2. FPL_Gyarados
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                It stands unfortunately.
                When match points say "confirmed" then that's that. Nothing changes then.

            • 8ball
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Do you think Lindelof, Smalling or Jones will start for the foreseeable future?

              1. Oooof
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                One with Bailly

                1. 8ball
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  Yea which one? 🙂

                  1. tafrère
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Jones is my favourite long term.

            • TheSteel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Maddison needs a year to be a real option IMO

              1. LangerznMash
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                He was the best player on the pitch.

                1. Big boy Bowen
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  Lol behave

            • DementedFlamingo
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Who do you think Ings will go? I hope he was a good season. When was the last time he played a full 90 mins? (Didnt follow pre-season closely.. so hopefully the answer isnt '3 days ago' :))

              1. DementedFlamingo
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                **How!

            • Albrightondknight
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              That rant against red dagger cracked me up.
              What does he for a grav a stupid frog or whatever it is meant to be.
              Snowflakery gone mad.
              So ease to offend these days.

            • Four Hit Wonder
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              One geezer triple captained Shaw. Also has Pogba and De Gea. 46 points.

            • Dog and Fox
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Is Anfield exspress gone from Twitter?

            • FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Here is to hoping TAA will actually, as many we're afraid of, stay on the bench. I got W-B as first sub then